barrett



(NdModeL) 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

- J. A. BARRETT.

CATCH FOR BOXES, &c.

No. 403.029.. Patented May-7, 1889.

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(N0 Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet J. A. BARRETT. GATGH FOR BOXES, &c.

No. 403,029. Patented. May 7;,l889."

N. PETERS, Phalo'ljlhagnpher, Wuhing'lon. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. BARRETT, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHN A. BARRETTCOMPANY, OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF MARYLAND.

CATCH FOR BOXES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,029, dated May '7,1889.

Application filed February 8, 1888. Serial No. 263,352. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN A. BARRETT, a citizen of the United States,and a residentof Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Catch for Boxes, &c., of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a catch or lock intended more especially forapplication to boxes generally, to bags, or other receptacles formed intwo parts which are to be closed together and held closed or formed withan ordinary cover.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effectivefastening; and the invention consists in the combination, with the twoparts of the box or similar receptacle that are to be fastened together,of a sleeve or collar and a lug or pin, either one adapted to rotate,and secured, respectively, to the two parts of the receptacle, thesleeve or collar be- 1ng cut away at one point to permit the pin when ina particular position to pass it when the parts are being closedtogether, after which a movement of rotation of one or the other elementof the lock or catch will hold them fastened, one of the elements beingon the handle of the box.

The invention consists also in the combination, with the rotating memberof the catch or look, of a spring applied, as will be hereinafterdescribed and shown, so as to prevent rotation to the point of openingexcepting upon the application of a positive force by the hand.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boxfurnished with a catch or look constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofthe box, the catch being shown in cross section taken on theline X X,Fig. 2. Fig. 4: shows the same view of the catch enlarged, the partsbeing arranged in locked position. Fig. 5 shows the parts unlocked andthe two halves of the box separated. Fig. 6 is a plan of an equivalentform of my invention wherein the lug or pin is made to rotate instead ofthe sleeve 01' collar. Fig. 7 shows in side elevation a box with aspring applied, so as to prevent accidental rotation of therotating partof the catch. Fig.

8 is an enlarged view in cross-section on the line Y Y, Fig. 6.

A B indicate the two parts or halves of the box which are to be fastenedtogether, and O 0 two lugs or brackets fastened to the upper half, A,and carrying the two rotatable collars or sleeves E, which are adaptedto turn in said brackets in any suitable manner. They are in the presentcase connected by a bar, H, which is formed as a handle by which the boxmay be transported. Secured to the other part of the box B are two lugsor pins, F, which in the present case are formed upon and projectlaterally from the brackets or ears D. The sleeves or collars E are cutaway at the point M, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, sothat when the two halves of the box are brought together, with thesleeve or collar E turned to the position shown in Fig. 5, the sleevemay pass the lug F, allowing the two parts A B to come together, afterwhich a movement of rotation of the sleeve E, by means of the handle orother device, will bring the parts into the relation shown in Figs. 3and 4, wherein, as will be obvious, the two parts will be held againstdisengagement. The box may then be transported by the handle H withoutany danger of opening. When the box is laid down in the position shownin Fig. 3, a movement of rotation of the handle H in direction of thearrow, so as to produce approximately a quarter-turn of the sleeve, willbring the opening M so that it will register with the lug or pin F, andthe top part, A, of the box may then be lifted.

It is obvious that a second slot or opening, M, Fig. 4, might be formedopposite the first, so that the turning of the sleeve in eitherdirection from the position shown in Fig. 3 would unlock the box; butfor the sake of security I prefer to employ the sleeve with the singleopening.

In order to prevent the rotating member from being turned to unlockingposition accidentally, I provide aspring, G, applied, as indicated inFig. 7, to be in the path of the rotating member or the partby whichsuch me1nber is rotated at or near the unlocking-point. By. thisarrangement if the box or receptacle should be stood upon edge and thehandle fall to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig.

7, the parts would not become unlocked, but could be unlocked by theapplication of a positive pressure by the hand sufiicient to overcomethe stress of the spring G.

5 In Figs. 6 and 8 I have shown the pin F as the rotating member of thecombination, the sleeve or collar E being mounted upon the fixed bracketor ear 0. In the position shown in Fig. 8 the parts are evidently lockedIO against any movement necessary in order to open the box A B; but byturning the pin F a quarter-turn approximately the pin and sleeve orcollar will be brought into such position that they may be separated bythe movement of one or the other part of the box.

Ido not limit myself to the precise form of sleeve and lug or pin, norto the particular manner of mounting them. They must be, however, s5arranged that one or the other of them being on the rotating handle ofthe box may have a movement of rotation after the two are brought intojuxtaposition by the closing of thebox, the rotary movement of thehandle being substantially in the plane of 2 5 movement of the parts ofthe box or case, and said sleeve being properly cut away to allow thepin to pass it, as described, in one position of rotation.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with a portablebox,

bag, or other receptacle formed in two parts adapted to be closedtogether and having a carrying-handle permanently pivoted to one of saidparts, of alocking device composed of a sleeve or collar cut away, asdescribed, and a lug adapted to enter said collar secured, respectively,to the two parts of the receptacle, one of the parts of said lockingdevice being in operative connection with the carrying handle and soarranged that when the handle is swung into carrying position the lugand collar are locked against separation, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the sleeve oreollar cut away and the lug orpin, either adapted to rotate or turn and secured, respectively, to thetwo parts of the box or other receptacle requiring to be securedtogether, of a spring, G, of any suitable form, placed in the path ofthe rotating element, so as to prevent the same from being turned tounlocking position, as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 10th day of January, A. D. 1888.

JOHN A. l-KARRE'WJ.

lVitnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, HUGO KOELKER.

